Friday, April 29, 2011

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was heading to Fort Wayne, Indiana as a guest of the convention and visitors bureau. The anticipated highlight of the trip was time spent at the Vera Bradley outlet sale.

If you're not familiar with Vera Bradley, then you clearly don't have ovaries or boobs, it's a company that makes purses, totes, luggage and accessories in a variety of patterns and fabrics. Each year, they have a huge outlet sale where you can find hundreds of items for 40-60% off. The sale is held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and I had no idea what I was in for:

I ended up buying 3 purses, 2 wallets and 1 large duffel bag for $122! And lucky for me, because we were traveling with the convention and visitors folks, we got to by-pass the lines at registration and at checkout.

Oh...you're thinking I said "giveaway" in the title of this post, but I haven't gotten to the point yet? Sorry about that. I just got carried away with all the fun memories of sale shopping. So yes...I DO have a giveaway.

Courtesy of Vera Bradley and VisitFortWayne.com, I have a tote in the Viva la Vera pattern to give to one lucky reader. Annie is modeling it here:

And here's a closer look:

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post telling me what you would do with the Viva la Vera tote -- keep it, give it as a gift (to whom?), etc.

For extra entries, you can:

Follow the 4th Frog blog and leave a comment saying you're a new follower (or you already follow)

"Like" the 4th Frog page on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you did (or you already like it)

I'll use random.org to select the winner on Monday, May 2 and will post the winner here and on the Facebook page. Good luck!

55
comments:

ok amy - i totally need to win this! i don't have anything vera and i would use it to haul all my junk to my various meetings. i have followed you forever - and i already have you as a fb friend!! so is this like three entries??? i should get a few more since i am usually up with you in the middle of the night lol

If I win I'm keeping it and calling it my Mother's Day present ('cause Lord knows my husband isn't big on gift-giving!)I 'like' your fb page and your blog is in my Google reader!Thanks for the chance,DivaMomVicki Ellis (who is too lazy to log into Google)

Now, I know what I would like to do with the bag. I would love to pack a bottle of wine, a swim suit, some sunscreen, and a good book and run away to a sunny corner of the world. In reality, it would be the perfect bag for finding matchbox cars and lego pieces in the bottom of when I clean it out!

i would keep it!!! i love vera, i have several bags, and i have been keeping my eye out for a bag to take all the notebooks and kiddy bibles to church in. the tote would be perfect for that!! i am so glad you fragged about this giveaway!! i missed it in my google reader!!

Ok so I NEED this tote! Seriously! I just started a weekly blog hop type thing over at my blog about couponing and saving money and I've started keeping a binder and sprial with me that has my ads, coupons, notes, etc in it and this would be PERFECT to carry those things in!!!! FINGERS CROSSED!

My mom LOVES Vera Bradley but I just gave her a lovely tote bag for her birthday so I think this one would have to be for me. I won't even feel guilty because I don't have any Vera of my own! With 3 kids I always have a TON to tote.

Well, I, too would keep for myself! Because I love Vera and I love your Blog. With such a cute bag to carry, I am sure many folks will comment on it and it will be my opportunity to tell them how I got it!

I am a huge fan of both 4th Frog and your facebook...I wait with baited breath for your posts. I do not own a Vera and I never have, but I really want one. As the Mother of the Bride I truly believe I deserve it. Right now everything is about the bride and it should be all about me!

Ok, I am game Amy. My husband only gives what he thinks are practical gifts. A Vera bag would not be consider that. I am married to a man that has a meter that measure the amount of electric we use each day (he can check via the net while at work). So this would be a wonderful gift to give him to give to me for mothers day.

Amy I admire you from afar because you are an excellent writer and have the greatest gift of gab. I totally love your posts! This year marks my mothers passing away 1 yr ago, April 8th to be exact. I have pondered what to do this year in her memory for Mothers Day. Last year although very rough we planted a red leaf maple and named it after her! She loved purses and I have several that I have kept while going through all her belongings. Each year in memory of what a great mom and grandma she has been we will dedicate something that she loved and what better than a Vera Bradley bag! To all moms out there that become daughters Best Friends, Happy Mothers Day!

Of course I love your blog, my favorite sister! I reAd it every day, my favorite sister! You know what I like about it, my favorite sister? I like how honest you are, my favorite sister. Like how you admitted to having and you even showed all of your dirty laundry to all of us. You know how some things that Michael Scott says or does makes you feel a little uncomfortable? That's how you make me feel sometimes, my favorite sister! But, I love your honesty and your humor and your ability to not care what people think! I would LOVE this purse! Love the pattern. Could be used for a girl or a boy. Btw...you are his/her favorite aunt!! :)

I just started following you after your guest post on Autism, a friend sent me the link. I don't have any Vera, and I would keep it, using it as a purse/diaper bag sort of thing. Yesterday was my birthday, and Sunday is Mother's Day.

Well first of all, I love the pose the Annie is striking here!! And second, I don't think I can compete with Shelly's comment. But if I finally get a vera bradley bag or win anything at all... I would give it to either my mother (to get her some style) or my mother-in-law (which would be perfect for her books during her long doctor trips). Keep up the good blogging.

Of course I already LIKE you...and like this tote as well, which would be my only Mother's Day gift, I'm sure, as lunch out is usually considered a (lame) gift by my family. I'd share it with my MIL, however, who lives with us (and doesn't that deserve a gift, too!).

I would probably give this to my mother-in-law but I just don't know....I already bought my mom a purse for Mother's Day so it would be a nice theme of the year :) Thanks for your great blog!!! You always make me smile :)

Amy--As a 4th Frog blog reader/follower/liker/etc., I am officially posting my "entry" for the Vera bag. (Which is weird... living in FW, surrounded by VB bags and all.) I own a few VB's, but I would probably gift this one to my mom for Mother's Day.